Dead silence rang in the atmosphere of the moving caravan.
It took time before Marlowe adjusted to the unfamiliar feeling of moving in a carriage as elegant as this one.
From the window, she could see other carriages which they passed by, or were trailing behind them. Igniting the hope that she's not alone in this.
They have been traveling for minutes now and her muscles were getting cramped from sitting in one position all day long.
Terrified to move to avoid eliciting a sound that could earn the attention of the man seated in her opposite direction.
Terrified was an understatement to what she felt earlier on, being in the same transport as him.
Marlowe fretted from the undivided gazes…no, to be more apt, glares he shot her initially. Scrutinizing as if trying to see something through her, which got her pretty confused, and on the larger scale, petrified!
Thankfully, he had ceased the constant look and had concentrated outside the window since then. Not sparing her another glance. Which makes his behavior questionable.
The Royal Castle of Valcresh is located at the north of the Kingdom. Far away from the premises of the locals.
Surrounded by mountain tops and high cliffs that were said to be constructed for protection.
Marlowe fought the urge to release a sigh. It has been forty minutes or so since they set off. Yet they were still far away from the Castle.
On impulse, Marlowe casted a glimpse at the notorious Lord accompanying her for the banquet—she still couldn't understand why though.
Eyeing him sensibly, Marlowe began thinking, 'I just need an opportunity to escape from here. But…how can I escape his grasp without him realizing?' she questioned herself with her thoughts reflecting placidly on her face.
And she was right to think so. From his heavy demeanor, he didn't look like someone that could be easily fooled or lied to.
Marlowe was certain that if she let out a word of excuse, he'll definitely know if she's being truthful or not.
Confusion overwhelmed her on what to do.
She needed a plan to successfully flee from here before they arrived at the Palace.
Outside, she could configure they were in the woods that would lead faster to their destination.
The thought caused a frown on her face and she looked back at the silent man opposite of her.
No wonder he was here. That should mean, other carriages had powerful escorts as well.
Such wise decision.
Marlowe thought; Because the woods is where all the monsters and wild creatures of Valcresh run wild; hence the escorts to serve as protection, and also in case of any plans of escape. Because they knew the women would be scared to run away in this dangerous lumber.
Marlowe sighed. Whoever's decision this was, the person must be smart and calculative. Because this plan was thought out well.
She sighed with plummeted shoulders. Does this mean her plan of escape would just be tossed out the window?
Yet deep down, Marlowe knew she preferred to be chased by wild monsters than step foot inside that cursed Castle.
Or was she?
Abruptly the carriage halted with a bump and the neighing cries of the horses came after, making her jerk without control. But the man, as if he knew that that would eventually happen, was as still as steel.
Astounded, Marlowe brows wrinkled in worry. It didn't end there.
Her heart sank when she heard guttural growls and screams from outside.
"Wait here and don't go anywhere." Since they had boarded the caravan, it was the first time Marlowe heard him speak. But there was no sign of worry on his face, his tone was rather…calm.
And the next thing, he was out of the carriage, leaving her alone—definitely not in her right state of mind.
Marlowe fidgeted with her fingers when the sounds grew increasingly. Clashing of swords followed next and she could hear the ugly sounds of weapons slashing against flesh.
Marlowe felt bile rise up her throat but she fought the relentless urge to puke from all the bloody slaughter going on out there.
She could even hear her own heartbeat in her ears, her breath was slowly exceeding her control.
She had never experienced such in her peaceful life. Ever!
But now…
Recalling that she was ordered to stay put and not move made her more anxious by the minute. What's going on?
She flinched when another loud animalistic growl echoed through the dense woods—and certainly, it didn't belong to a human being. As if that was not enough, the carriage she was in, collapsed after getting hit by who knows what. But the force was so strong that she was uncertain of her survival.
Marlowe fought the urge to let out a scream, yet unfortunately, the impact of the capsiding carriage caused her to slam against its hard parts as it kept rolling on and on.
Until it stopped after hitting against what she thought to be a rock. Marlowe whimpered from the pain and bruises that got ministered to her.
She moved to feel herself, but her legs and back ached excruciatingly as a result of them taking most of the impact during the fall.
But then her eyes flickered with a glint. "This might be my chance," she painstakingly whispered, pushing herself to crawl out from the half broken door.
Shocked! Marlowe did not expect what she witnessed when she successfully struggled her way out of the damaged carriage.
Her eyes widened and fear enveloped her by the sight. Potent stench of metallic liquid oozed in the air and she was certain it was exuding from the thick red liquid scattered about.
This is a bloodbath!
She felt weakness invade her legs and her body was suddenly drained of life.
Dead bodies scattered about; some were of the knights and grooms of the carriages, and the others were of the young ladies.
Some knights were still engaged in a fight with some hazardous-looking beasts and they weren't in their best state either.
Marlowe suppressed the strong feeling of passing out, as she used her quivering hands to block her mouth. Tears trailed down to her chin. Terrified for her life.
And as if suddenly hauled back to her senses, she struggled to get on her feet. Not knowing where such strength came from, she began to run in the direction of thick trees and branches. Not caring if she went deeper into the danger.
But all she knew was that she wanted to survive.
All the while, thinking;
The person who brought this idea was not as smart after all.
What if the motive was different from what she initially thought?
Instead of ensuring safety and reducing the risk of escape, could it be…to rather ensure death?